CALGARY, Alta. – Mark Messier, Team Canada general manager for the 2010 IIHF World Championship, has announced a group of seven additional players that will represent Canada at the world championship, which runs May 7-23 in Cologne and Mannheim, Germany.  

Messier and the management staff, comprised of Scott Salmond, Hockey Canada’s director of men’s national teams, Doug Risebrough, Michel Goulet and Doug Messier, have been scouting NHL teams and monitoring the playoff situation. A first group of 15 players and one alternate player was named on April 16.

The players named on Saturday are:

G Chad Johnson Calgary, Alta. New York Rangers (NHL)

D Kyle Cumiskey Abbotsford, B.C. Colorado Avalanche (NHL)
D Michael Del Zotto Stouffville, Ont. New York Rangers (NHL)
D Tyler Myers DeWinton, Alta. Buffalo Sabres (NHL)

F Matt Duchene Haliburton, Ont. Colorado Avalanche (NHL)
F Brooks Laich Wawota, Sask. Washington Capitals (NHL)
F Ryan Smyth Banff, Alta. Los Angeles Kings (NHL)

Canada’s roster for the World Championship now includes 23 players, including two goaltenders, eight defencemen and twelve forwards.  Forward Jordan Eberle (Regina, Sask./Regina, WHL) will also be with the team as an alternate who could be added to the active World Championship roster at a later date.  

Canada can register up to 25 players on its final roster at the world championship, but only 22 players, including two goaltenders, can be dressed for each game.

Canada’s coaching staff is comprised of head coach Craig MacTavish (London, Ont.), associate coach Peter DeBoer (Dunnville, Ont./Florida Panthers, NHL) and assistant coach Billy Moores (Edmonton, Alta./Edmonton Oilers, NHL)

The team will convene in Hamburg, Germany on May 2 for a four-day pre-competition camp that will include one exhibition game, on May 4 against Germany. Canada’s first game at the 2010 IIHF World Championship is on May 8 vs. Italy in Mannheim. An official roster does not have to be submitted to the IIHF by Hockey Canada until May 7, and players can be added after the preliminary round up to a maximum of 25 players.